Bobby Hamilton Racing

	Danny Rollins Bio Bobby Hamilton Crew Chief Birthdate: October 6, 1972 Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee Residence: Lebanon, Tennessee Wife: Marli Children: Paige, Olivia

The very first time Danny Rollins went to a track he was the gofer for a local team in Nashville, Tennessee. He got the call one night to be a filler for a team that was shorthanded and he went. After three weeks of racing, Rollins thought about how he’d like to make a career of it. “I was 18 or 19 when I went to the track to help out,” Rollins said. “Long story short, this team told me I didn’t need to do a lot, just stand around and do little things when needed. Then I realized how cool it was and how much I wanted to be in it. So I did things to help out. One time when I was asked to pick up headers for a team, I was sent to Danny Gill’s store called Just Racing. When we started talking, he told me about a guy who was looking for a tire changer. I told him I’ve never done that before, but he said he knew him and would call. The guy just so happens to be Kip McCord, the current Crew Chief for teammate Chad Chaffin. While I was there at the shop he called Kip at Sadler Racing and told him that I was the best tire changer he’d ever seen. He told him about my trade of being a welder and played me up to the hilt. I’m over there looking at him like man you are kidding right now? Kip told him to send me down there and from that point on I was in the door to racing. That’s one of those funny stories you look back on and say, goodness how did that work?” While at Sadler’s, Rollins used his expertise to work in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the NASCAR Busch Series and the Auto Racing Club of America (ARCA). Then in 1999 Rollins was hired at Bobby Hamilton Racing to change front tires on the 18 truck, but that wasn’t all the speedy tire changer could do. It took only six months before he was promoted to co-truck chief of the team where he stayed until the end of the 2000 season. By the time 2001 rolled around, Hamilton had noticed Rollins was ready to make the big calls. During the off-season, Hamilton promoted Rollins to Crew Chief for Joe Ruttman and the duo won the Daytona 250, the first race of the season. That 24-race season they won two races, posted 10 top-fives and 20 top-10 finishes. Ruttman, with the help of Rollins, proved to be a championship contender throughout the season before he settled in the third spot. In 2002 Rollins helped Hamilton start his third Craftsman Truck Series team. After things got settled mid-season, Rollins moved back to crew chief for the No. 18 Dickies Dodge. In 2003 he worked with Bill Lester on the No. 8 Dodge until mid June when he was moved to work with Nashville standout Chad Chaffin in the No. 18 Dickies Dodge. Although it seems Rollins has been moved back and forth among teams, one thing has stayed consistent; the fact Hamilton sees his expertise as a top-notch crew chief. That very reason is why this season Rollins will assume the head wrench position with driver Bobby Hamilton on the No. 4 Square D Dodge. The duo wants to sit at the Championship table at the end-of-the-year banquet, so this season must be full of highs. “I think our chemistry is really good,” Rollins said. “I can usually tell by his actions whether he’s happy or unhappy, frustrated or excited. It’s almost like a marriage. After you’ve been married for a while you kind of know how to take your spouse. You can tell by the look on their face if they are happy or not. I can do that with Bobby. I can also anticipate things he is going to say too. “To win every race to me is not out of the question,” Rollins said. “I feel like there is not another team out there that is above us. We are one of the best teams. With the combination of a great Pit crew, the guys at the shop and Bobby, I don’t think anyone can beat us.” Here are other quick fact notes on Danny: In 2001, his first year as Crew Chief for BHR, Rollins helped driver Joe Ruttman win two races, acquire 10 top-fives and 20 top-10 finishes in only 24 events. This season Rollins will take the top spot for Owner/Driver Bobby Hamilton in the same No. 4 Square D Dodge that he helped start for BHR in 2002. Rollins joined BHR in 1999. He was originally hired to change front tires for the No. 18 truck and in only six months Rollins was promoted to co-truck chief. Other notable drivers Rollins has worked with are Dave Marcis, Kevin LePage, Casey Atwood and Robert Pressley.